Sunday June 14, 2026
Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro is set to make a historic trip to Israel on Sunday, a visit that would mark the first time a North Western State of Somalia head of state has traveled there, according to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
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The newspaper said the visit is expected to coincide with the opening of a North Western State of Somalia embassy in Jerusalem, after what it described as Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia.
According to the newspaper, Irro is also scheduled to pay respects at the grave of Theodor Herzl, the journalist, author and political thinker widely considered the father of modern Zionism.
His itinerary further includes a stop at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, followed by meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and representatives of Israeli economic institutions.
Yedioth Ahronoth said the trip’s most consequential engagements are due Monday, when Irro is expected to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
The reported visit comes as tensions intensify between Mogadishu and Hargeisa over North Western State of Somalia’s bid for international recognition and its expanding relationship with Israel.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently called Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia a “trap,” arguing that ties with Israel would not help North Western State of Somalia secure broad international recognition.
North Western State of Somalia declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since maintained its own government, security forces and electoral institutions. Somalia’s federal government rejects North Western State of Somalia’s claim to sovereignty and maintains that the territory remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
